Should I Visit Salento or Cali for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Should you visit Salento or Cali?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Salento or Cali? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Salento or Cali?

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

Cali

Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Colombia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Colombia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia.

Which place is cheaper, Cali or Salento?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

Salento Prices
Colombia Prices

Cali Prices
Colombia Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Salento $35

Cali $28

The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $35, while the average daily cost in Cali is $28. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Salento and Cali in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Salento $10

Cali $5.41
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Salento $20

Cali $11

Compare Hotels in Salento and Cali

Looking for a hotel in Salento or Cali? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.

Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Salento Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Salento $13

Cali $5.05

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:

Short Taxi Ride

$0.90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali

Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $18
Transfer in Private Car from Cali Airport (CLO) -Cali City: $19
Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $20
Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $31
Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
Transfer from Hotel Zone to Cali Airport: $39
Transfer from Cali Airport to Cali Hotel Zone: $39
RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $72
Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $80
Alfonso Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Transfer: $80
Alfonso Airport CLO to Cali or Palmira Hotels Arrival Transfer: $80
Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $102

Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Cali?

Prices for flights to both Cali and Salento change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.

Food

Food Meals for one day

Salento $15

Cali $13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.

Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

Street Food Tour: $20
Tradicional Pacific Colombian Cooking Class: $48
Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Salento $10

Cali $9.54

Tours and Activities in Salento

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:

Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $126
Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $168
Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $100
Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $83
Coffee Tour Salento-Ocaso Farm- English Tour: $14
Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso Finca Tradicional-Español: $14
Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $30
Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $56
Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Private Tour: $96
Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Tour: $199
From Cocora Valley Hiking Tour with Lunch: $85
From Cocora Valley Shared Tour: $56

Tours and Activities in Cali

For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $5.25
Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $5.25
Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $6.21
Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $13
Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $14
Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga: $15
Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $16
Comuna 20 Siloé Street Art Tour: $25
Street Food Walking Tour: $25
Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $26
Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali: $26
The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $30

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Salento $10

Cali $7.62

Sample the Local Flavors in Cali

Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

Salsa Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $16
Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $17
Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $17
Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $34
Pub Crawl Salsa in Cali: $48
Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $50
Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and Cali, we can see that Salento is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Salento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salento than you might in Cali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salento Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Salento or Cali?

Cali has a larger population, and is about 580 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Salento and Cali, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

A Travel Price Comparison for Colombia Salento vs. Cali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salento or Cali?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Salento or Cali?

Salento

Cali

Which place is cheaper, Cali or Salento?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Salento and Cali

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali

Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Cali?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Salento

Tours and Activities in Cali

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Cali

Which is Bigger, Salento or Cali?

Related Articles for Salento

Related Articles for Cali

A Travel Price Comparison for Colombia Salento vs. Cali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salento or Cali?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Salento or Cali?

Salento

Cali

Which place is cheaper, Cali or Salento?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Salento and Cali

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali

Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Cali?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Salento

Tours and Activities in Cali

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Cali

Which is Bigger, Salento or Cali?

Related Articles for Salento

Related Articles for Cali

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